Meet the Academy Staff

Matthew Lowe

Coach

Matt is an experienced and dynamic UEFA ‘B’ licensed football coach who also works with young aspiring players at Championship club, Blackburn Rovers FC’s Youth Academy. Matt also scouts for the club and comes from a football family, his father is currently First Team Coach at Blackburn Rovers FC. In line with IHM Football Academy’s ethos, Matt graduated in Sport Science (BSc Hons – Liverpool Hope University) in May 2014 and with a double Distinction BTEC award, as well as a PTTLS teaching qualification, is perfectly placed to tutor and lecture on the academic side of the programme. Matt is a perfect addition to the IHM Football Academy coaching team, perfectly complimenting the professional playing experience brought by Frank Sinclair (ex-Chelsea FC & Jamaica) and Jon Macken (Man City FC and Preston North End).

Chris Morrell

Coach

Chris has a wealth of experience in football, especially in the area around Ellesmere. Currently undergoing his UEFA A coaching licence with the Welsh FA, Chris comes to us from his previous role at Salford University, where he led the football programme and coached the men’s first team at the university. As well as this, he has recently been working with a number of local clubs in the North Wales area.
Taking on this leading role at the academy, Chris can draw upon his time in the Welsh Premier League as Assistant Manager of Llanduno FC and heading up the academy at Prestatyn Town.

Frank Sinclair

Coach

Frank Sinclair is a retired professional footballer who was born in England with Jamaican roots. He represented Chelsea from the age of 11, signing professional forms at 18 and making his professional debut while on loan at West Brom. During his time with Chelsea, Frank won the FA Cup in 1996-97, the League Cup in 1997-98 and the UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup in 1997-98, playing alongside some of the greats of the modern game like Ruud Gullit and Gianfranco Zola. Frank also collected silverware with Leicester City, winning the League Cup in 1999-2000 under Martin O’Neill, before representing clubs like Burnley and Huddersfield Town with distinction. He also represented Jamaica at the 1998 World Cup. Since getting his coaching badges (he has a UEFA A coaching licence), Frank has held coaching or managerial posts with Colwyn Bay, Hednesford Town and Oldham under 16s and is currently assistant manager with non-league Radcliffe Borough. The Chelsea legend also appears regularly on the Chelsea T.V., offering insightful analysis on Blues’ fixtures.
Beginning his career with Premier League side Manchester United in 1995, he then joined Preston North End and managed to notch up 63 goals in 189 league matches until his departure to Manchester City in 2002. Macken eventually made his first Premier League appearance for City and made 51 appearances during his three years there, notably scoring against United in the Manchester derby in 2004.

He signed for Crystal Palace in 2005 and whilst there moved to Ipswich Town on loan. In 2007 he moved again to Derby County. Jon then went on to play for various other UK pro clubs; Barnsley, Walsall, Northwich Victoria, before joining Stockport County briefly in 2013. He has one international cap for the Republic of Ireland, which he earned in 2004 whilst a City player.”

Having got his “UEFA A” coaching license, Jon now manages Radcliffe Borough and coaches with the IH Manchester Manchester international football academy .

Jon Macken

Coach

“Jonathan Paul “Jon” Macken is an English-born Irish footballer, who retired having represented some of England’s biggest clubs.

Beginning his career with Premier League side Manchester United in 1995, he then joined Preston North End and managed to notch up 63 goals in 189 league matches until his departure to Manchester City in 2002. Macken eventually made his first Premier League appearance for City and made 51 appearances during his three years there, notably scoring against United in the Manchester derby in 2004.

He signed for Crystal Palace in 2005 and whilst there moved to Ipswich Town on loan. In 2007 he moved again to Derby County. Jon then went on to play for various other UK pro clubs; Barnsley, Walsall, Northwich Victoria, before joining Stockport County briefly in 2013. He has one international cap for the Republic of Ireland, which he earned in 2004 whilst a City player.”

Having got his “UEFA A” coaching license, Jon now manages Radcliffe Borough and coaches with the IH Manchester Manchester international football academy .

John Glew-O’Leary

Director and Principal

John is from Ireland and graduated in Economics from University College Cork. During his teaching career, John has worked in China where as Director of Studies he managed a large team of English language teachers. John has also worked in Ethiopia as a volunteer when he was younger. John holds the Cambridge DELTA qualification.

Katie Hayes

Director and Registrar

Katie has a degree in French and Italian and completed her CELTA qualification at International House London. She then went on to teach English in Italy and the Czech Republic. When she returned to the UK in 1996 she worked for Halifax bank for several years and then joined the company in 2008. She now looks after the finance, accounts and bookings for IH Manchester.

Michael Brennan

Director

Michael Brennan (Mick) is one of the four directors. Mick is a UEFA “B’ licensed qualified football coach and has a degree in Sports Science & Management from the University of Central Lancashire, as well as many years experience managing youth sports coaching programs. Mick began his career in the sports industry in 1996 as apprentice coach with the Premiership football team, Blackburn Rovers FC. Mick then went on to become the Senior Community Development Officer at the club, managing an indoor football facility and a team of sports coaches. This makes him well placed to work with our football students and to pass on his experience.

Peter Hayes

Director

The School is owned by the directors; Peter Hayes, Michael Brennan, Katie Hayes and John Glew-O’Leary. Peter is a law graduate from the University of Westminster and worked as the Manager of the Business Centre at inlingua Cheltenham for seven and a half years from May 1999 until he left in November 2006.
Peter has been in the English language teaching industry since 1991, starting his English teaching career in Verona, Italy. He then went on to take the RSA University of Cambridge Diploma in EFL with the Bell School in Norwich. In Summer 1996 Peter took his first management job being appointed as Director of Studies at Stafford House School of English in Canterbury. By 1998 Peter was co-running ASPECT Oxford, a large and modern English language school with up 350 students aged between 12 and 25 years.